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RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hi Tom, I have been following your latest masterpiece and just make sure that when you hand glide it, you have someone film it. My 1/3 D-VIII has been clear doped and is ready to remove big old gasser and replace it with big new electric. Also going to upgrade servos in critical areas. Might just see you at Rhinebeck if I can get my tired old butt out of SoCal. Norm

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Norm
Now that would be a treat to see you there! It's been many years. Thanks for following my build. It's been a long journey which hopefully is coming to an end soon. I'm planing on building a 1/3 scale GTM Fokker D-7 next. It will be the first kit since I finished my pup in the late 80's. As you remember I like scratch building.
Maybe we'll see you at Rhinebeck!
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Tom,
This weekend Im getting the Half Scale D6 re-certified and part of that process for the inspector is a "all up weight" as soon as I get that figure...you will be the first to know....(well really you will be the third to know, the inspector will be first and I will be second [sm=lol.gif])

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

FINALLY!! The wing is finished covered!!!YAHHHHH!!!
Today I covered the wing tips and made up the access doors. Next will be to stain the wing. But before I do that I want to take the airplane outside and put it together for pictures. I will hope to do that Monday. I did weigh the wing again. It came out at 23 1/4 lbs. So that 20 lb. dream I had is out the window.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Well Tom, it looks like a piece of furniture, just beautiful!! It was fun being in your inner-sanctum last week and listening to all of your ideas, I never get tired of that. I am sure a lot of guys following your thread would love to visit your shop and pick your brain on how you build and assemble everything. You are one of the "Master Builders" in the hobby.
Your D-VIII is going to make someone very happy, or draw big crowds at some museum.
Funny, your first scale project was almost as nice as this one, what, 27 yrs. ago? You don't think so but I do.
So show it off at Rhinebeck, and listen to the congrats from all the followers of your thread, which is quite an achievement in it's own right, all the pictures and explaining...... that all took a lot of time.

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Jack Thanks for the kind words. I enjoyed your company also. Always great to see old friends who moved away years ago.
Today I had another great visit from Mitch Epstein. He came in 4th Expert at the 2010 Top Gun tournament. He flies a beautiful 1/3 scale Waco. Mitch came over to see my D-8 project and help me out with my stains. Good to see you Mitch and thanks for the help.
So today I took a ride to home depot and picked up some supplies to mix up some stains. I first thought that I should use Mineral spirits. After talking with Del Johnson on the phone about using that or alcohol . I was wrong, The brown seemed to work but none of the other colors would. The powder stains would not break down in the mineral spirits so I went with the alcohol. That worked great. Del stained a 1/4 scale D-8 wing years ago with the same packets we acquired from GTM who got them from Germany. Also, It's nice to be able to pick up the phone and call Del any time for his input. Thanks Del. Here are some pictures of a test piece of plywood. Now keep in mind this is only one coat of stain, I plan on re coating on the wing, and on the last pictures there is two coats of spar varnish applied. I will most likely apply 4 to 5 coats. I think this will work fine. It definitely will look full scale and not model ish so to speak. I mean it won't look perfect.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Thanks to all of you watching and responding.
Here I started to stain the wing tonight. It came out great. Not perfect, Just like the real ones. The glue shows in some areas and the stain came out streaky just like I was hoping. I will now flip her over and do the top stains. The angle of the stain was copied from Achim Engels wing in Germany. He racked it at one bay angle, so I did the same. In the pic's the angle does not show as strong as it really is.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

And the Top.. It was a lot of fun staining the wing tonight. I really slapped it on, just like Achim said to do it. 3rd coat I did the streaking, it worked fine. I'll see how it looks tomorrow, weather it needs any more stain. If not I will begin the varnishing. I will most likely put down 2 or 3 coats before I paint the crosses than the rest of the varnish. It's kinda nice trying to get a full scale effect rather than a perfect model look. I do plan on painting all markings by hand.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hey Tom,
The colors look great!! The varnish should really set it off nicely. Of course I'll see it at Rhinebeck and can't wait!! Not too much varnish or it won't fit through the window opening. Talk to you soon.

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hi Tom, I have been following your build which I hope will inspire me to finish my 1/3 D-VIII. It is ready for final paint, I missed the part where you covered the wing with fabric. I used light weigt glider ceconite. You should be building replica full size aircraft like Bryan, you are even a better builder than he is. Norm

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hi Norm,
You didn't miss the fabric covering because the full-scale wing was bare plywood with stain and varnish. I asked Tom the same thing and he explained it to me. If Fokker didn't do it, Tom didn't do it. He is a stickler for detail, as you know. Neat coloring scheme, huh? He showed me the total coloring scheme and it will really stand out when completed.
One of a kind.... the plane and Tom.
Glad to see you still follow the N.E. contingint and you should post some pics of your E-D-VIII!!

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hey Norm
How about that flight ticket to Rhinebeck! Come now, You can surely do it, Would be nice to have you join our group there. Lot of talented builders and fliers in the GTM team.
And like Jack Cullen said no fabric on a Fokker D-8 wing. You of all people should know, Documentation First, Then build the plane second!!! I learned a lot from you judging my planes in the old days.
Howdy Jack!
Ya the plane sure does look colorful with these crazy stains. I will be varnishing tonight. The color is what it is. Not perfect. And if it fades so be it, just like the real one I guess. I am going to do the No." 3 "instead of the "S "On the color scheme after all.
I'll post more pic's later.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Hi Tom, the older I get the more I realize I don't know. I am sure going to try but is not looking too good at the moment, I am just finishing a writing assignment which is proving harder than I thought. Sure would love to see you guys again and the 1929 Spartan C-3 in one of museum's hangars. I had my first airplane ride with my dad in that airplane at 8 years old, not one like it, but that airplane. Norm

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

Norm
I know the exact airplane you are talking about. I actually have considered modeling that plane. It's the Black and red or orange striped one correct. Big Biplane it is at that also. When I see it again I will think of you and your Dad. I will be sure to take a picture for you and post it when I get back.
Tom

RE: 1/2 Scale Fokker D-8

And a coat of varnish for the top. I can see why the historians believed the wing to be over all olive painted, The top of the wing looks very dark. One more coat on top and bottom then I will hand paint the crosses and Pilots personal no. 3 on the center in yellow!!
Tom